Voting machine



Od; 9, 1934. R. D, UHTHOFF VOTING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 18, 129

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INVENTOR BY Emma/?a 0.UHTHOFI`,

s %mm A ORNEY Patented Oct. 9, 1934 PATENT OFFICE UNITED STATES VOTING MACHINE Application December 18, 1929, Serial No. 414,927 Renewed November 29, 1933 Claims.

This invention relates to voting machines and more particularly to that type in which there are vertical columns of voting devices.

Among the objects of the invention are, first, to

5 provide a simple and dependable mechanism whereby one or a predetermined plurality of votes may be registered in any Vertical column and when said one or plurality of votes as predetermined shall have been registered on the machine to positively lock all the other voting devices in said vertical row against registering; and second, to provide a simple and dependable means oraltering the looking mechanism to permit one or a plurality of votes on said vertical column as may 1 be predetermined.

This invention is intended for application to a voting machine of the type illustrated and descrbed in Patent No. 1,13l,363 to J. C. Garrett, March 9, 1915. In my copending applications i Serial Number &14,928 filed Dec. 18, 1929, and

Serial Number 414323, filed Dec. 18, 1929, I illustrate and describe improved mechanism for controlling the vote-registering buttons, comprising a vertical bar that moves in a vertical direction when any knob is turned to register a vote in the machine, all of said mechanisms being intended for use on the type of voting machine disclosed in the Garrett Patent No. 1,131,363 above cited. The control of the number of vertical motions of a vertical bar as disclosed in my copending applications for patent above cited is positively and easily efieoted by the mechanism hereinafter disclosed. It is believed to be perfectly obvious from the disclosure in my copending applications for patent above cited, that the operation of my improved mechanism may be defined either in the terms of the control of the motion of any vertical bar or of the mechanism of a voting machine in which this mechanism is especially intended to be used.

In the accompanying drawing which is a part of this specification Figure 1 is a rear elevation embodying a preferred form of my invention,

Figure 2 is an elevation of the lower portion of my looking device,

Figure 3 is an elevation of the upper portion of my looking device, and

Figure 4 is an elevation partly in section on line 4 of Figure 2 through the center of the locking device as viewed from the left.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the speoification. Referring to Figure 1 the lower portion 1 of my 5 looking device is in the form of a wedge of sheet metal, having formed in the bottom a horizontal slot 2 by means of the marginal wall 3. The lower portion 1 of my looking device is supported by the slot 2, on a stud bolt 4 which passes through the slot 5 in the front wall 6 and is secured in a vertical bar 20 of the machine, and is held on said bolt by the split Washer 7. It will be understood from my copending applications for patent above cited that the vertical bar 20 is one of the vertical bars of a voting machine of the type disclosed in the Garrettcpatent above cited that is actuated by a voting button. Cams on the voting button shaft intercept studs on the lower portion of the vertical bar 20 and move it upwards one predetermined space each time the voting button and 7 its shaft is turned to record a vote. This mechanism therefore by definitely limiting the number of upward motions of a vertical bar 20 to any predetermined number obviously limits the number of votes that may be made on the voting '15 buttons in any vertical column of voting buttons connected with the same vertical bar 20. The upper part 8 of the looking device is in the form of an acute angle and is provided with a central vertical slot 9 by means of which it may be ad- 8.0, justed up or down by means of the two screws 10, 10 adapted for attachment at 11, 11 to the lower portion 1. In order to set the looking device quickly and truly to lock a vertical bar after one or a plurality of vote-registering motions upward by said bar, I mark the upper part 8 of the i looking device with lines which with arrow 21 on the part 1 indicates the appropriate setting position to permit of and limit the voting under control of said vertical bar to the predetermined and selected number, as shown in Figure 3. In order to positively and definitely restrict the vertical movement of a wedge 8 on either side there is mounted on the inner side of the front wall 6 of the machine a lug 12 by means of two screws 13, 13. The lug 12 is provided with a rearward extension 14 in the form of a round hearing hole 15 through which the horizontal rod 16 is supported, 'the bar 16 being a support which prevents the edges 8 of the wedge from moving back by bending or buckling to escape the inclined upper and lower edges 17 and 18 respectively of adjacent lugs 12. The angle of inclination of the edges 17 and 18 is similar to that of the edges of the wedge 8,

It is obvious thatany number of looking devices may be used on as many vertical bars as desirecl. Having now particularly pointed out and described one of the preferred forms of my invention, I do not choose to limit myself except as in the appended claims.

justably seouring one portion to the other, a hori zontal slot in the lower portion and means secured to a vertical bar and adapted to support said locking device in said horizontal slot.

2. In a voting machine, a vertical bar for controlling the registering of a' vote, a device for locking said bar against vertical movement mounted on said vertical bar, said looking device comprising a wedge-shaped upper portion and a wedgeshaped lower portion, a longitudinal slot in one portion and set screws for adjustably looking said portions together, and two stops mounted on the machine one on either side of said wedge-shaped upper portion having its edge surface inolined in a plane substantially parallel to that of the proximate edge of said wedge-shaped portion.

V 3. In a voting machine, a vertical bar for controlling the registering of a vote, a device for looking said bar against vertical movement mounted on said vertical bar, said looking device comprising a wedge-shaped upper portion and a wedge-shaped lower. portion, a longitudinal slot in one portion'and set screws for adjustably looking said portions together, and two stops mounted on 'said machin'e'one on either side 'of said wedgeshaped upper portion and means adapted to en gage the front of said upper portion and to guide it.

4. In a voting machine, a vertical bar :for controiling the registering of a vote, a device for locking said bar against vertical movement mounted A on said vertical bar, said looking device comprising looking said bar against vertical movement mounted on said vertical bar, said looking device comprising a wedge-shaped upper portion and a wedge-shaped lower portion, means for adjustably securing one portion to the other, a horizontal slot in the lower portion and means Secured to a vertical bar and adapted to support said looking device in said horizontal slot, and two stops mounted on the machine one on either side of said Wedge-shaped' upper portion having its edge ioo surface inclined in a plane substantially parallel p to that of the proximate edge of said wedge-shaped portion. v

` RICHARD D. 'UI-ITHOFF.

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